Slenders Wonder - Purple

The sleek and streamlined Slender Edition is the perfect blend of subtle, understated design and maximum sensory satisfaction. Slim, sophisticated and waterproof, the Slender`s sexy, ergonomic shape exhilarates, while its powerful, yet whisper-quiet, three-speed motor ensures a mind altering experience. 3 stimulating speeds easy push button controls phthalate-free and body-safe satin-smooth coated controls hygienic medical-grade TPR shower and bath-friendly jelly like material flexes and conforms ultra-powerful motor soothes and seduces maximum intensity with minimum noise

[Via http://playfultoysonline.wordpress.com]

All About New Year's Eve

Here’s a chat I had with Tom Kelly published in The SF Bay Times on December 24th, 2009. Hope you can all come to my NYE show if you’re in town. It’s always a good time.For Tickets go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/86090

What better way to ring in the New Year than with laughter? And there aren’t many people on the planet who are wittier than SF’s favorite funny lady Marga Gomez. Named “Best Comedian 2009” in the SF Bay Guardian readers poll, she has appeared on stage, film and television. For a great time… go see Marga at The Marga Gomez New Year’s Eve Spectacular.

(Bay Times) I hear you have a love affair with the City of San Francisco. Care to comment?

(Marga Gomez) I wouldn’t really call it a love affair. I have more of a sexual, torrid crazy apache dance with San Francisco. It’s like that movie Nine and a Half Weeks, and I’m Micky Rourke and San Francisco is Kim Bassinger. I’ve tried leaving San Francisco many times for other cities like New York and LA, but I always come back. Like I always say, “I wish I knew how to quit you.”

Movie references aside, yes, I love San Francisco. It felt like home from the moment I landed on Castro Street as a 19-year-old baby dyke from Manhattan. Everyone was creative here, even the postal workers. I got involved with queer comedy at the Valencia Rose in 1984, and that was it. I found my calling. I wanted to be a famous lesbian comic, so I could meet women.

This is your 6th annual New Year’s event with Theatre Rhinoceros. Why Rhino?

New Year’s Eve is my favorite holiday of the year ever since I was a kid. My parents were performers, and they would come back from their NYE shows with party hats and noisemakers and party favors for me. I dreamed about being a NYE performer, the one at the center of the celebration. It’s always cool to say you have a New Year’s gig when you are a performer. For six years The Rhino has hired me for what is truly a dream NYE gig. I get to perform at The Victoria Theatre, a beautiful former burlesque house, for 500 or more people who are in high spirits but not drunk that I can tell.

I began working with Rhino because I was impressed by their history as the longest running queer theater in America. They have produced three of my shows in the last ten years and have been there for me. I want them to thrive, and these New Year’s Spectaculars help that along. Plus, they have a very sexy audience at these shows, and you know we include NYE countdowns at random just to see our audience kiss.

How will this year’s Spectacular differ from previous ones?

This year will be more spectacular. I will do a completely different hour of comedy than I did last year. But Sarah Palin will still be trashed. Before I take the stage, we will feature not one opening act, but three of the most exciting new gay comics on the scene: local rising sensations Natasha Muse and David Hawkins and – flying in all the way from New York City – ukulele comic Ben Lerman. I can’t wait to hear the audience go nuts for these kids. By popular demand DJ O’DJ will be back spinning live before both shows.

Will there by nudity?

Nudity? Ben Lerman and I are partially nude in some of our publicity shots. If anybody gets naked at the show, I hope it’s our emcee John Fisher, the Artistic Director of Theatre Rhino. I bet he has a nice butt.

Why do you think we should start 2010 laughing?

Because if you start out crying, you’ll ruin your mascara. And 2009 was just ridiculous.

The Marga Gomez New Year’s Eve Spectacular plays Dec. 31 (Thurs 7pm and 9pm) at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street, San Francisco. For tickets call (800) 838-3006 or at brownpapertickets.com. More info at therhino.org.

[Via http://margagomez.wordpress.com]

Frenzy for new toys builds at Arkansas Walmart stores: Target left wondering, "Why not here?"

With Christmas just a few hours away, we’re seeing a great frenzy developing at Arkansas Walmart stores, especially in the newly-remodeled Bentonville Walmart and always hectic Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market in Pinnacle Hills.While some of the hottest toys of the season are available at Target, there are a few that the buyers at Target left off the list. We found one hot toy you definitely will not find at Target.Check out the following limited edition toys we wish were available only at selected Walmart stores in Arkansas for a limited time:

Eureka Springs Barbee: This Barbee is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, arch-less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstock with white socks. She prefers that you call her Willow or when it’s dinner time. She does not want or need a Kenny Barbee, but if you purchase two Harrison Barbees and the optional Subaru wagon, you get a rainbow flag bumper sticker for free.

Eureka Springs II Barbee: This versatile Barbee can be easily converted from Barbee to Kenny by simply adding or subtracting the multiple snap-on parts. She still wants you to call her when it’s dinner time.

Fayetteville Barbee: Comes with an assortment of second-hand Kate Spade Handbags, a dented Lexus SUV, and a long-haired foreign dog named Honey that humps everything in sight. She lives in a cookie-cutter McMansion with a mortgage that’s so upside down, well, you know. Available with or without the botched tummy tuck, boob job, and face lift. Alcoholic Kenny sold only in conjunction with the augmented version.

Fort Smith Barbee: The modern day homemaker Barbee is available with the ten-year-old Ford Windstar mini-van on the verge of being repossessed, plus a matching gym outfit complete with torn armpits to match the torn seats in the van. She gets lost easily and has no full-time occupation. Traffic jamming cell phone sold separately.

Harrison Barbee: This pale model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans two sizes too small, a NASCAR t-shirt and tweedy bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Bud light and a Hank Williams Jr. CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and kick mullet-haired Kenny’s butt when she’s drunk. Purchase her pickup truck separately and get a confederate flag bumper sticker absolutely free.

Pinnacle Hills Barbee: This yuppie Barbee comes with your choice of last-year’s BMW or Hummer H2. Included are a personalized Starbucks cup good only at the Starbucks that closed last year, a credit card that’s over the limit, and a faux-country club membership. Also available for this set are Shallow Kenny and Private School Skipper. You can only purchase these at the local bank, because everything was repo’d because daddy was a Northwest Arkansas real estate developer that went bust.

Rogers Barbee: This Barbee is no longer available for political reasons, but can still be found on eBay. Wearing just one shoe, this Barb went broke running a pizza joint in historic downtown Rogers, then got busted for running a Ponzi-scheme, finally committing pretend-suicide by pretending to throw herself off the Beaver Lake Dam.

Springdale Barbee: This Barbee is attired in the traditional chicken-processing job garb, where she chokes Kenny’s little chicken on a daily basis. She comes with a green-card, twelve bambinos, and speaks only Spanish.

SW Little Rock Barbee: This Barbee now comes with a stroller and two in-bred infant Barbee wannabes. Optional accessories include a GED with last year’s maps and an expired bus pass. Gangsta Kenny and his 1971 Caddy were available, but is now very difficult to find since the addition of the mixed-breed infant.

West Memphis Barbee: This recently paroled Barbee comes with a 9mm toy handgun, a fake Ray Lewis knife, and a 64′ Chevy with dark tinted windows. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills) …unless you are a cop, then we don’t know what you are talking about.

Pine Bluff Barbee: This Barbee was never available… she got shot before she made it to the list.

Legal Notice: Please do not confuse these toys with products made by other companies, including Barbie (r) which is made by Mattel (r). Our toys should not be confused with any Mattel ™ or Barbie ™ toy, or any other toy on the market. Any resemblance to any toy or person, living or dead, or anything currently available in a Walmart store is a mere coincidence. Parody comparisons are strictly in the eyes of the reader and not intended. No Rights are Reserved.

[Via http://rogersarkansas.wordpress.com]

Helping LGBT Youth

Geoff Kors of EQCA recently had an op-ed in the Bay Area Reporter announcing EQCA’s new student internship program. It’s worth a read:

Originially appeared in the Bay Area Reporter

Jim Nickoff, my best friend of more than 20 years, came out at age 15 in 1978, a time when very few teenagers came out and even fewer services were available for LGBT youth. The pain he suffered after being rejected by his family, his faith, and community was overwhelming. Jim was determined to heal the wounds, but they never healed no matter how hard he worked at it. The realization that the pain would not end became unbearable. On December 16, 2007, he committed suicide at the age of 44.

Jim not only worked hard to overcome the harm he suffered as a youth, but he also worked hard to prevent other youth from going through what he did. He devoted his life to the fight for equality and created opportunities for LGBT youth through his work at Equality California and many other LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations.

Creating a safe, accepting environment for LGBT youth is just as crucial today as it was when Jim came out. In fact, although the battles for equality being waged at the ballot box, in the courts, and in legislatures throughout the nation are most often in the spotlight, it is the battle for acceptance in schools that may very well be the most important fight of all.

We know how anti-LGBT forces preyed on parents’ fears about what will be taught in schools to strip away marriage rights at the ballot box in Maine and California. But the fight extends far beyond the issue of marriage and has been going on for decades.

Anti-LGBT organizations fought us every step of the way to prevent the passage of Harvey Milk Day legislation and, having lost, they are now working to keep schools from teaching about Harvey Milk, even urging parents to take their children out of public schools altogether on May 22, Harvey Milk Day, in protest.

Just last week, those leading the effort to repeal LGBT inclusive anti-bullying curriculum adopted by the Board of Education in Alameda, claiming it created “special rights,” reiterated their opposition even after the school board’s recent vote that not only reaffirmed its commitment to teaching respect for LGBT people but also expanded the curriculum to include respect for racial, ethnic, and religious minorities and others who are subject to discrimination-based bullying.

This change did nothing to appease opponents since the special rights argument is really just an excuse. Their true goal: preventing any positive mention of LGBT people in school curriculum.

These are just the latest fights in the many decades of school-related battles we have fought against those opposed to LGBT equality, which started long ago with attempts to prohibit LGBT individuals from being teachers, and they continue today.

Right-wing groups fight safe schools legislation, anti-bullying curriculum, and the establishment of gay-straight alliances because they believe that if straight students are taught to respect LGBT people and get to know LGBT students as friends and classmates, it will counter the bigotry these youth hear from right wing religious leaders, family members, and others, and we will gain greater acceptance.

They are threatening to boycott Harvey Milk Day because they worry that if students learn about the history of discrimination against, and achievements of, LGBT individuals, they will be less likely to hate us and more likely to support equality and acceptance. And they are right.

If students learn the truth, we will help stem the damage that bigotry and bullying cause. That is why Equality California has worked so hard to pass strong, inclusive safe schools legislation – legislation prohibiting negative portrayals of LGBT people in curriculum, and the bill creating Harvey Milk Day in California. It is why we will fight for inclusive curriculum and anti-bullying policies until they are the law in every school district in the state. It is why we need to make sure every California student knows why we are celebrating Harvey Milk Day on May 22, 2010, and every year thereafter.

We need to make it clear to the broader public – and parents in particular – that the danger isn’t in students learning about LGBT people in school, but rather the danger is in students not learning about LGBT people in school. We need to take on our opponents and call out these adult bullies for the very real harm they cause to LGBT youth – harm that lasts a lifetime. It is only by speaking out strongly about how youth are hurt by anti-LGBT prejudice that we have the opportunity to reduce the growing number of hate crimes against LGBT people and the higher rates of substance abuse, drop outs, and suicides among LGBT youth and adults that are a direct result of anti-gay bias.

We owe it to every LGBT youth and the children of LGBT parents, to fight for safe schools and inclusive curriculum. We owe it to Jim and to every LGBT person whose lives have been lost to suicide or a senseless hate crime. In fact, we owe it to every youth, LGBT or not, so that when they grow up and have kids of their own they can pass on the lessons of tolerance and acceptance. In so doing, we will be taking a major step toward ending the bigotry that damages so many lives and toward achieving our goal of true equality and acceptance.

The Equality California Institute has established a student internship in Jim Nickoff’s memory. Applications and information can be found at www.eqca/jobs.

[Via http://queerstockton.com]

PBD is going to NYC!

Hell to the yes! I’m super excited! (If you can’t already tell.)

The reason I’m going to NYC is because I got approved for a month-long internship for a magazine up there. I super excited because isn’t NYC supposes to be brimming with lesbians?

Maybe I’ll catch the eye of a cute boi while I’m up there. *wink*

The down side of all of this is that my mom is worried that this internship will bite me in the butt later in life. Because  it’s a gay mens mag.

(Remember my mom doesn’t know about me she thinks I’m a weird non sexual girl,  and that is fine by her.)

Add to the fact my dad doesn’t know what type of mag it is and my mom hinted that he will blow his top…crap.

But I’m positive about my journey.I’m going to hopefully learn a lot from this job and will get explore the city while checking out th gay scene!

*Gasp* Maybe I might even go to a play part and see sinclar sexsmith! *swoon*

Any tips on where I should hit?Remember though I’m only 19..LOL.

[Via http://princessbabydyke.wordpress.com]

All I Really Want for Christmas

     For Christmas this year, all I really want is some perfect moments. You know what I’m talking about. I want those pockets of time when, for an hour or a few minutes, nothing is worrying me and I am embraced by a feeling of peace. As corny as it sounds, sitting in front of a fire with my girlfriend next to me and our dogs scattered about the room does it for me. No, I’m not a ninety-year old lesbian who has lost my zest for life. But I’ve learned that there is something to be appreciated about being still and drinking in certain feelings, savoring the perfection of  simple pleasures that so often elude us when we are always in a hurry.

     I’ve spent most of  life chasing things that I thought would make me happy. For a large portion of my life, I bought into the mania of conspicuous consumption that we’ve all been tempted by, falsely believing that if I lived in the right house, drove the right car and surrounded myself with plenty of toys, then I’d be happy. It’s funny how busy you can keep yourself striving for this hollow excuse for a life. Personally, I can barely keep up with the technology. It drives me crazy trying to figure it all out. I still don’t have an iPod. I know what you’re thinking and you’re right. I am truly living in the past with my CDs. But I’ve stopped apologizing for it at least. Judge  me as you will.

     When it’s all said and done and the holidays are over for another year, I want to move into the new year remembering the satisfaction and love I felt sitting by the fire in the arms of a soft woman. The crowded malls and 40lb. newspapers dripping with advertisements do not impress me, and instead leave me agitated and as far from jolly as a person can be. Wouldn’t it be grand if we could all go back to the days when you actually made a gift for the people you love with your own two hands. Stop snickering. Some people still do that. And yes, I would rather get a tin of homemade cookies than a new IPhone or iPod or whatever else is the latest gadget de jour.

     Bet you’re wondering if I made all my gifts, thinking I am probably all talk and no action. Well, the truth is, I did make a lot of my gifts. Or rather, I wrote a book of poems for my family and close friends. I know how nerdy that makes me sound, but I have decided to embrace that aspect of my personality in the name of self-love and good mental health, something else that has also eluded me at times. Plus, somebody told me that lesbians are supposed to write a lot of bad poetry, being the serious, cause-oriented women that so many of us are. Since I’m not a huge fan of bumper-stickers like so many lesbians are, I’ll stick with my poetry. Hope I didn’t offend you lesbos with twenty bumper stickers on your car. NOT!

     So pipe down already if you are laughing at me. I know we’re in a recession and that all good Americans need to spend money to get the economy back on its feet. Maybe we should all chip in and save the healthcare system or spend the money we waste on trinkets and new cameras to fund solar and wind energy projects. Wouldn’t that be a good idea. I know. Too hard to wrap, right?

     Don’t worry. You don’t have to read my book of poems. Nobody much reads poetry anymore. My wish for you is that you slow down enough during the holidays to experience some poetry first hand in those perfect moments of each day.

     Happy Holidays.

[Via http://lesbianwink.wordpress.com]

The Female Myth: A Rant By Val

I just need to let off a little.  As I click around and read information, I am astounded by the amount of people, academics included, that seem to claim that almost every female bodily function during sex is a “myth.”  Female ejaculation is a possible “myth.”  The G Spot and the infamous G Spot orgasm? “myth.”  Whether or not women actually like sex? “myth.”

This pisses me off.  Why does nearly EVERYTHING involving women and sex a myth?!  I don’t want to hear bullshit answers like “research needs to be done,” “or we just aren’t advanced enough yet in technology,” “Or there’s no hard scientific evidence.”  I say that is a crock of shit.  If there is ANYTHING that should be the most researched and understood topic, it should be sex.  For fucking crying out loud, we have been having sex since the beginning of human history–it’s how we fucking reproduce!  It’s how we are still here!  How in the world after all of this time, can we not understand the female sexual body functions?!

And what more evidence do you need than a woman screaming at the top of lungs as she rides her guy like he’s an apeshit wildebeast to know that he’s hit her G spot?  Or what about when she comes so much that it’s dripping off of your chin and is literally soaking through the bedsheets to know that she is ejaculating?  And why is it still so uncommon, or mythological, for women to actually enjoy sex?!

Perhaps these so-called myths still exist because too many women are still being silent about sex, with their friends, their partners, and even with themselves.  Maybe some women shouldn’t even be having sex with men, but rather women, but are too afraid to go there.  Same goes with anal sex, porn, masturbation, and just overall sexual exploration and enjoyment.  Maybe the majority of women aren’t ejaculating because they aren’t telling their partners what they like and are just being complicit to their partner’s needs.  And maybe their lazy-ass patriarchal caveman boyfriends are too stupid and selfish to ask.  Maybe women aren’t having the best orgasms, or even an orgasm at all in some cases, because they are too hesitant to demand better sex lives for themselves.

Well ladies, I say its time to put this myth to rest.

I squirt when I come.

I have had a G spot orgasm.

And by God, I like sex.

And you should too.

[Via http://theundercoverlover.wordpress.com]

Not That There Was A Shortage Of Gays In Washington, DC - Gay Marriage Will Be Legalized Soon

The bill was passed yesterday 11-2. Congress now has 30 working days to act on the bill. Thanks to our Mayor Adrian Fenty who has promised to sign the bill and David Catania who introduced the bill and is one of two openly gay council members.

Of course, there are still a few homophobics who will try to get it overturned either in Congress or at the polls. But, according to our beloved district’s nonvoting delegate to Congress, Eleanor Holmes Norton, it doesn’t look like there will be any problem or opposition. The “no” votes included our former mayor and crackhead, Marion Barry, who said, “I don’t,” when it was his turn. I even didn’t now he was still involved with anything DC related.

Considering other four major States – California, New York, Maine, and New Jersey rejected such a law, I guess this is pretty symbolic for DC then. If the bill becomes law, the district will join Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts and Vermont in issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. They will be able to wed in New Hampshire starting in January.

So, I guess all these rallies worth it

[Via http://awesomedc.com]

Commentary - 2010: the Best Path to Restoration of Equality

There are two ballot initiative measures in circulation related to a proposed constitutional Convention. The first measure is titled the Citizens Constitutional Convention Act and would amend the existing California Constitution to allow a simple majority of California voters to call a constitutional convention. Currently, the state legislature must authorize a constitutional convention.

The second constitutional initiative measure being circulated  is a mandate for forming a  the actual  constitutional convention  commission under the aegis of the Fair Political Practices Commission. The Commission will determine the site and dates of the convention. The deadline for submitting the constitutional initiative petition signatures to the Secretary of State for validation is January 11th, 2010.

This constitutional convention could have adverse consequences for the restoration of marriage equality for members of the LGBT community.

First, because the constitutional convention  would not be allowed to take up marriage, abortion, and some other restricted matters, and, second, because  one of the purposes of such a convention would be to raise threshold for amending the California Constitution  from a simple majority to a two-thirds majority. This would make it virtually impossible to overturn the abolition of marriage equality that was put into the California Constitution with  passage of Proposition 8 in November of 2008.

According to “Repair California”, the group that is pushing the constitutional convention initiatives, roughly 70% of California voters support holding the convention to rewrite the California Constitution. If this group’s claims are accurate then it appears to be a near certainly that the convention will be approved by the voters in 2010. Such a convention will take place in 2011 and the revisions will then be submitted to the voters for approval  in 2012.

Should the LGBT community wait until 2012 to make a concerted effort to wrest back their right to marry? Should they wait until 2012 on the theory that it will take that long to change enough minds for equality to prevail at the ballot box?  But what happens if and when the Constitution is amended to require a two thirds vote in order to restore marriage equality in November of 2012? What will happen if  the higher  amendment threshold is passed in June of 2012?

The faction within the LGBT community that is holding out for 2012 to take it back to the ballot assert that the political climate of a presidential election will be more amenable to a youth turnout  that would yield a better margin for LGBT rights. If that is true, then how can Obama’s vote in California in 2008 be reconciled with the vote for repeal of marriage equality?

No one knows what the political lay of the land will look like in 2012. Right now, Obama is alienating a lot of the progressive base. These are the same progressives who supplied much of his 2008 margin of victory. What happens if the progressive base becomes ever more disenchanted? What happens if they stay home in November, 2012?

The safest and wisest path to restoration of marriage equality is to support the Restoration of Marriage Equality Initiative for the November 2010 ballot. The 2012 holdout faction within the LGBT community needs to realize the very real risks the whole community faces by holding out.  Waiting until the constitutional amendment threshold is raised could forever put marriage equality beyond reach for those who did not make it in during the brief window of marriage equality in 2008.  Delaying justice so that it is forever denied is not a viable option for me. Delaying equality and justice to those who are no longer able to exercise the right that was taken away from them in 2008 should not be an acceptable option for anyone.

Jay Hubbell

For more information on the 2010 Initiative to Restore Marriage Equality:

www.signforequality.com

[Via http://queerbakersfield.com]

Lesbian Fashion and Dressing for Holiday Parties

     Why is it that there are no lines of clothing for lesbians specifically. That’s not to say we aren’t women who can easily dress like other women. But the truth is that often we don’t want to dress exactly like other women. For me, I want to look sexy, without the stiletto heels and uncomfortable high fashion clothes. You could say I want to cheat. I want sex appeal without the pain and discomfort.

     We need women’s dress tuxedo-like suits that fit a woman’s curves. I always cringe when I see lesbians trying to fit their beautiful bodies into men’s tuxedos. It doesn’t typically work that well unless they are tall, thin, and less than voluptuous. Women’s bodies don’t adapt well to men’s clothes. You know it’s true. I’ve tried it. I like men’s clothing too, especially shirts. But the arms are too long, the shoulders are too broad, and the shirt hangs to my knees. So much for adapting.

     When in doubt during the holidays, wear sequins. You can wear an ordinary pair of black slacks and as long as there is some sparkle on the blouse or scarf, with some festive earrings and a necklace, you’re good to go. For those lesbos less inclined to indulge in jewelry, go with sparkles. Even butch girls can do sparkle, without feeling too prissy. Go ahead. You know you want to. Why should the lipsticks have all the fun.

     With scarves being all the rage, you can always go with a gorgeous scarf to dress up an ordinary outfit for the occasion. The stores are full of these perfect accessories. Not only are they affordable, they come in every possible color and fabric for those of you with wool allergies and other issues.

     If you keep three words in mind when you’re dressing for parties this year you’ll be fine. First look for sparkle. Second look for festive, which means anything that says…holiday when you wear it. And third look for a great fit that is comfortable. If your outfit incorporates these three words, you are good to go.

     Happy Holidays!

[Via http://lesbianwink.wordpress.com]

The Rats are Taking Over!!!

Some people would refer to that animal to the left as a dog. I respectfully disagree, chihuahuas are overgrown rats and apparently have infested California! According to the article they’re now the most abandoned pet… right ahead of pit bulls.

So queers do yourselves, and everyone else, a favor and stop buying toy dogs. They’re annoying, break easy and they’re taking over!

[Via http://queerfresno.com]

Wal-Mart Bans Gay Couple for NOT Shoplifting

This recent story I found at Box Turtle Bulletin is a perhaps not so startling example of how far we still have to go.

Timothy Kincaid

Not every confrontation that a gay person experiences in their life is based on their orientation. But sometimes it is very difficult to see any other possible explanation.

Take the experience that Joe Paolucci, Thomas Hitchcock, and their special need twins had recently with Wal-Mart.

Employees at the Niles, MI Wal-Mart store accused Paolucci of shoplifting some Bic lighters. Although he produced the receipt, they refused to back down, insisting that the two men go to a “detention room”. The employees, using vulgarities and hostility, frightened their special needs kids. (South Bend Tribune)

Paolucci said that while he and Hitchcock were attempting to calm down the boys, the employees ordered them to enter a “detention room” for questioning. Fearful of what might happen behind closed doors, he and Hitchcock refused to enter and asked to speak to a manager.

“Some guy came up and said, ‘I’m the manager,’ then turned around and left,” Hitchcock said.

Paolucci said he and Hitchcock then asked store personnel to call police. Within minutes, deputies from the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department’s Niles Township Patrol arrived, pleasing Paolucci who said he thought a few questions and a review of the store’s videotapes and computer records would quickly resolve the matter.

He said he was shocked when he was immediately handcuffed, without a question being asked, and placed in the back seat of a squad car. Hitchcock wasn’t handcuffed but also was placed in the back seat of a second squad car.

The twins, despite the protests of Paolucci and Hitchcock, were turned over to the store’s security personnel, who took them into the “detention room” or what police referred to as a security room.

A review of the security tapes proved that Paolucci and Hitchcock had done no wrong. So the store management profusely apologized and expressed their remose, right? No. They did not.

The two said they expected an apology and were surprised once again when personnel from the store walked up to the squad cars with the twins and read from a statement that Paolucci and Hitchcock had been banned by the store chain for life. Rather than shoplifting, the reason they were given was “being uncooperative.”

By the time they were read the statement, Paolucci and Hitchcock said, the twins had told them that the security staff had allegedly threatened them in the security room and had made disparaging remarks about Paolucci and Hitchcock’s lifestyle. Paolucci and Hitchcock said they asked police to take statements from the boys but the officers refused, telling the couple they’d have to contact Child Protective Services.

Wal-Mart even refused to replace frozen items that had now thawed due to their unprovoked misuse of their customers. Nor did the situation end at the harassment of the couple at the store.

Paolucci said the boys have suffered a type of post-traumatic stress disorder since the experience. Both wet their beds, although one has stopped, and both have had nightmares about one security employee in particular, he said.

“They’re terrified, horrified. We’ve had to change their medication twice,” he said.

And what does Wal-Mart corporate have to say?

Paolucci and Hitchcock e-mailed The Tribune a copy of a letter from a law firm representing Wal-Mart seeking 10 times the retail price of the items the store still claims were shoplifted by Paolucci. The letter states the matter will be dropped if Paolucci submits the $158.40 payment.

Now this is not the first time that Wal-Mart has been perceived as hostile to gay Americans. In 2007, HRC advised against giving our business to Wal-Mart, and just in April of this year, the CEO signed his name to a petition to ban gay couples from adopting.

Wal-Mart doesn’t care about my opinion. And there’s little I can do to impact their decision to treat gay customers with hostility.

But perhaps there are those, even in Niles, MI, who will decide that this situation is just one too many. That they cannot give their custom to bad neighbors. That it may be worth an extra nickle and a further drive to frequent the stores that do not abuse customers solely because they “disapprove of their lifestyle” and who admit it and apologize when they are wrong.

All I can do is spread the word.

Posted to

Box Turtle Bulletin11/07/09

Low prices aren’t always a good reason to shop somewhere.  Principle matters.  I’ve not been in a Wal-Mart in about 2 years, and I don’t plan on shopping in one again.

(as in our disclaimer posted elsewhere, these are my views only, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Queer Visalia, Queer Networks, Inc., or other posters here.)

[Via http://queervisalia.com]

WHITE WOMAN WANTS BLACK MAN FOR CHRISTMAS!

SANTA ALL I WANT IS A BIG BLACK MAN FOR CHRISTMAS!

ILL FIGURE OUT THE REST…..ALSO A BOXX OF COCKSOXXCONDOMS THAT

PUTS A FREE ADULT DVD IN EACH PACK WITH 9 NAMEBRAND CONDOMS AND LUBE!

COCKSOXXCONDOMS.COM

[Via http://imstrapped.wordpress.com]

Gay news update for December 4th

Obama White House supports World AIDS Day

December 2nd – In conjunction with World AIDS Day, a two-story Red Ribbon was hung in front of the white house. While it would be nice to say this reflects the change in administration at the White House, this is not without precedent. Former President Bush is credited with the first red ribbon appearance in 2007. While some say that Bush’s ribbon was more militaristic and clear-cut, other say Obama’s is more flowing and encompassing. No matter what side of the ideological debate you fall, one thing is for certain – the White House is sending a clear message in its support of World AIDS Day.

December 3rd – Remember Actress Meredith Baxter from TV fame “Family Ties?” Well she came out of the closet yesterday when news leaked that she was attending a gay cruise for women. The choice to come out was not voluntary as she was outed by the paparazzi when candid pictures of her partner Nancy Locke appeared on Perez Hilton’s blog. Baxter appeared on an interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer to confirm the story and to state that she wished she had come out sooner stating that is was a personal as much as a political statement to come out. Way to go Meredith!!

December 3rd – Gay marriage advocates were disappointed yet again when the New York Senate voted 24-38 to deny a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. The vote was delayed by 2 hours as a passionate debate hit the floor. As always is the case when same-sex marriage comes up for debate, members of the religious right and the Catholic and Orthodox Jewish population petitioned to have the bill fail.

December 4th – Watch what internet video blogger Philip Defranco (better known as Sexy Phil) has to say about the New York Senate’s recent vote against same-sex marriage. Why can’t all hetero guys be like him? Open minded, smart, outspoken, a little geeky and always ready to poke fun at both gays and straights.

[Via http://planetqtv.wordpress.com]

I Like How She Likes Me

She likes me. The color of my hair. The smell of my skin. The color of my eyes.

She likes me.

The blonde tips of my eyelashes, she loves.

The curve of my lips… she loves.

My tattoos, she loves.

Sitting, patiently, the anticipation builds up inside of me. She told me she’ll come right back, but that was a few minutes ago. I sigh to myself. I think of her. Sighing and thinking… of her, then she appears and I stand up. “Sit down” she says to me softly, so softly, it’s almost inaudible. She removes me from this world and makes me feel like a woman. How does a woman feel like a woman naturally? There’s no sure answer, but she did it.

She likes me.

She sits down next to me and gently swipe a few curls out of the way, then leans in and kisses me on my cheek. My hearts beats faster. She smells like … like… the scent of heaven and I want to go there with her. Let her know that I am a believer. She puts her hand on my lower back and kisses my neck. Collar bone. Chest. She returns to me and kisses my lips. Ahh. I sigh. Does she know I love her? I wonder. Her skin, smooth, against mine. Kiss me again, I think, and she does! She kisses me like she loves me too!

She likes me

There’s a song in my heart and it’s the title is her name. Every lyric of the song is her name. I love her name. Her hand drops to my lap and she rubs my thigh through my skirt. Touch me! Please?…

To Be Continued…

[Via http://sabrinall.wordpress.com]

Bridget Loves Bernice

In what’s now become a familiar cry around the halls of chez Freem…..I was robbed!

Apparently after three marriages and 62 years, Meredith Baxter Birney has decided to stop shaving all together.

  

She was spotted on a lesbian cruise this past week with her new girlfriend.  Unlike straight cruises, lesbian cruises do not require guests to tip and no one complains about the smell of low tide.

What’s shocking is that it took MBB 62 years, 5 children and some grandrats to switch sides whereas one night with Freem usually does the trick.

So once again, I’ve masturbated under false pretense.

Thanks a lot.

                 This means you too McGillis!

  

          Amish and Lesbian?  I’ma need a refund.

                                                .

            And of course Jodie….although who didn’t see that one coming?

  

I got this when I was 10 years old.   It was part of the Lil’ Lesbo Bubble Gum Trading Card series.  Anyone wanna swap me a Kristy McNichol?

[Via http://freemblap.com]

National Equality March

Watch National Equality March on VJnet.org

On October 11, 2009 I went to Washington DC for the National Equality March Rally with David b and Brian G from TheOccasionalFag.com.

equalityacrossamerica.org

Soundtrack

Fragile Day by A Northern Chorus

This Is Modern Love by Bloc Party

Part of the PodsafeMusicNetwork.com

Blowin’ In The Wind by Jay Brannan

Lady Gaga

Cynthia Nixon

Judy Shepard

Subscribe to the video podcast at VJnet.org | 347-68-VJNET [347-688-5638] | vjnetcast[at]gmail.com | VJnetcast.com | A BustB!G and Live Your Dreams Production | Part of the Airstream Podcasting Network

[Via http://vjnet.wordpress.com]

The Status Quo

The Government must keep the status-quo in order to retain key seats in Parliament.    This is one of the underlying factors in the heads of Government, regarding its stance on the debate. Again I evidence the idea that 60% of the population in support of gay marriage, with figures even higher in the youth of the nation. This continued stance is an insult to the ideals of democracy as the Australian public. The country is not ruled through communism, nor through any aspect of fascism, yet it would appear that elements are applicable in this case. The fact is, that this Australian Government is deaf to the pleas of the majority of the population, which directly contravenes the right of the tax paying population to be heard by their leaders. We do not live in a fascist country, but in regards to this issue, it appears that there is a sense of democratic dictatorship in the air. This merely evidences the idea that the Government must keep a somewhat conservative stance in order to retain funding from sponsors and large business. Yet whilst the country is based on the notions of capitalism, let it not rule in the political spectrum.  Those arguments aside, returning to the notion of discrimination and homophobia, the destruction of the model of the nuclear family is essential in the stamping out of discrimination. Society should not cater to the idea of a mother, father and 2.3 children as the set model for family. Through this incremental desensitisation to homosexuals in society, can there finally a deeper level of humanity evident within our society. The first step is basic human rights, the second civil unions, the third, marriage, the fourth, adoption (an issue I will delve into later). But the Australian Government must realise that it is ignoring the ideals evident within the majority of society. As the people of the nation where a “fair go,” is core to our collective psyche, will not stand to be ignored.

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[Via http://braidzy.wordpress.com]

The Private Session

"Kelsie’s heart was racing, head was racing with the feeling coursing through her body."

“Now arch your back towards the ceiling as you exhale.  Relax the neck, letting your head drift downwards.”

Cat pose, Kelsie thought.  Her hands and knees pressed gently into her purple yoga mat as she dutifully raised her head towards the ceiling with her next breath, rotating her hips and bending her graceful belly towards the floor.  Cow pose.

Greg the yoga instructor walked barefoot among the 12 mats in the small studio, now warm with the exertions of his students.  “Now let’s push back into child’s pose and rest.”  Kelsie could see his shoulder-length dark hair come to touch his shoulders and loose tank-top shirt as he bent forward to help a student settle into the resting pose.  After almost a year of his beginner’s level classes, Kelsie didn’t need to look up to locate him in the dimly lit studio.  She could place him by the soft pad of his feet on the wood floor, or the slow exhale of a student whom he had helped fall deeper into a pose.  “Now, when you feel ready, slowly roll your body up to a seated position.  Hands together in front of your chest.”

Kelsie, now seated like the rest of the class to face Greg, pressed her palms together between her breasts, as if to pray.  “Namaste,” said Greg.  The class responded in kind.

The students began their usual sleepy slow chatter after class as they left in ones and twos.  Kelsie lingered behind, taking more than necessary time to roll up her mat.  As the second-to-last student walked out of the studio door, Greg collected the remaining straps and foam blocks.  “How did you enjoy today’s class, Kelsie?” he asked, bending to pick up a block.

“It was wonderful, Greg.  Very relaxing.”  She swung her mat bag over her shoulder neatly.  Her long brown hair was swept back into a similarly neat pony-tail.  Her pale gold yoga tank matched her beige stretch yoga pants and made her deeply green eyes more dramatic.  Though her features and grace conspired to beauty, Kelsie’s modesty and quiet demeanor caused most men to balk and seek easier prey.  In her 28 years there had been one or two serious lovers, but their earnestness had faded.  “But Greg,” but how do I say this? “I’ve been coming to your class for a while, and I feel I have…progressed…”

“You feel as though you aren’t being challenged?” Greg stood up, finishing her thought.

She checked his face for signs that he had taken offence.  There were none in that shy smile.  He had replaced his thick-rimmed, squarish eyeglasses and pulled his hair back into a short pony-tail.  He really is quite attractive.  “I guess that’s it.  I don’t want to change classes or anything.”  Her plump lips pressed together slightly.  I just know there’s something more I’m missing.

“I think I know what you mean,” said Greg.  “I can see it in your body.  You need something more than my class can give you.”  He slipped his muscled arm around her shoulder as they walked out together.  “I went through the same stage before I decided to become a certified instructor.”  Kelsie helpfully turned out the studio lights, and Greg locked the door behind them.  It was nearing dusk as they walked to their parked cars.  Kelsie had parked her Mazda next to his Jeep.  “Why don’t you give me your email?  I think I know someone that can help you.”

She rummaged in the center console of her car for pen and paper.  “See you next week,” Greg said when she had given him the slip of paper.  He held her hand briefly with both of his before walking around to the driver’s side of his 4×4.

“See you,” Kelsie replied.

On the drive home, Kelsie felt a strange excitement.  For what? she wondered.  He probably has a girlfriend, and I’ll probably have to leave his class to find what I’m looking for. But what am I looking for? At home she showered, ate a quick Lean Cuisine, checked the news and went to bed.

After a tiresome meeting at work the next afternoon, Kelsie checked her email.  She had forgotten that Greg was going to contact her, until she saw the message in her inbox.  It was from YogaGreg32:

“Kelsie,

I spent last night thinking about what you said regarding your progress in my class.  I took the liberty of setting up a private instruction session with one of my colleagues.  Her name is Keiley Raam.  She specializes in challenging the body and spirit, and would be happy to guide you.  She is in town this Friday, is 6pm at the studio OK?

Kelsie, I hope you will meet with her.  I think she can help you.  I’ll leave the studio key under the mat.

-Greg”

Kelsie felt a flutter of excitement that Greg had responded to her so quickly.  She fantasized briefly that he had stayed up all night, thinking about Kelsie in various yoga positions, her auburn hair flowing down her shoulders.  She snapped to herself again.  You’re at work! she chided.  Save silly thoughts for home. She wrote him a quick reply saying she would be there, Friday at 6pm.  A specialist in challenging the body and spirit? The days until then could not come quick enough to sate her curiosity.

After work that Friday, she went home to shower before heading over to the studio, something she had never previously done.  Why do I want to shower? she thought.  I’m just going to get all sweaty again. She chose for this session a loose-fitting white t-shirt, and the same comfortable beige yoga pants.  They fit snugly on her buttocks as she pulled them on.  She felt clean.  Wonder what this Keiley has in store?

When she arrived at the studio just before six, she could see a dim light through the sheer curtained window whose source was not the usual studio ceiling lights.  I guess Keiley wanted to set up before I got here she thought.  She walked through the unlocked door of the studio.

The source of the light was eight or nine glowing candles, whose flames illuminated the sultry green smoke from a small incense burner.  Keiley Raam was seated on the bare wood floor of the clean studio, eyes closed, hands pressed together between medium breasts.  Her eyes opened slowly at the sound of Kelsie entering the room.

“Oh, hi,” Kelsie said nervously.  “I’m Kelsie.  You must be Keiley.  Should I just put my mat down anywhere?  Thanks for doing this,” she didn’t know what this was, but it seemed the polite thing to say.

Keiley rose serenely to her feet, and Kelsie got the full visual impact of stunning exotic beauty.  Keiley was taller, of slim build, and in the dim light Kelsie could see her jet black hair and supple bronze skin.  She was wearing a simple flowing sheer dress, which seemed to simultaneously draw the candlelight to itself while emanating a subtle glow.  She’s beautiful Kelsie thought.  She felt the moment of hesitation a moth feels before giving in completely to the irresistible brightness of a flickering candle flame.

“It’s so nice to meet you.”  Keiley came near to Kelsie and hugged her in greeting, hugged her as a dear friend.  Kelsie felt the mounds of her breasts through the sheer of her dress.  Her scent was the sweet and tang of the incense, multiplied.  “Greg told me about your situation.  Please, place your mat there in the middle of the floor.”  Kelsie removed her mat and unfurled it.  The studio would have felt quite empty, were it not for the comfortable glow of candles, and the present warmth of Keiley.  “He told me that your body and spirit are ready for the kind of instruction I provide.”

Kelsie sat down in half-lotus on her mat.  Her voice was softer than she had expected when she replied, “Well, I don’t know…exactly what…Greg said you provide private sessions and were in town.  He said you would be happy to guide me in my yoga practice.”  Keiley sat down in full lotus across from Kelsie.  She leaned forward from the hips towards Kelsie, grasped her hands gently.

“Are you open to experiencing new heights of satisfaction?” Keiley whispered.

Kelsie felt the tingling warmth from Keiley’s touch.  She thought of Greg’s shy smile, of how it felt for him to lay his hands on her when he helped her discover the depths of a pose, felt the trust that had built between them over the course of a year.  “Yes,” she whispered in answer.

“Let’s begin.  Lie down on your back,” Keiley said.  “Close your eyes.  Let your arms and legs relax towards the floor.  Allow your breath to become deep and even.  Inhale, filling the lungs with breath, and exhale, relaxing the whole body from head to toe.”

Kelsie enjoyed the calm whisper of Keiley’s voice.  She enjoyed the deep, regular breathing she was experiencing with Keiley’s instruction.  This is wonderful she thought.

“Let’s move into a Sun Salutation now.”  Kelsie followed Keiley’s voice as it circled slowly around her, regular as her breathing.  The incense wafted in the wake of Keiley’s pale dress as she touched Keiley, adjusting her poses.  A soft touch here, gentle pressure there.  Kelsey flowed through each pose as fluid as candle wax.  “Now come to a standing position, with eyes closed.”

Kelsie felt the presence of Keiley, very close.  She kept her eyes closed when she felt Keiley’s finger tips on the thin stripe of exposed flesh between her t-shirt and her yoga pants.  Her breath quickened as she felt those fingers slide under the edge of the t-shirt and begin to rise.  Her arms rose as Keiley lifted Kelsie’s shirt up and over her head, exposing her bare breasts and pink, rosy nipples.

Kelsie continued to breath deeply with eyes flutteringly closed as Keiley undressed her.  She loosened, then finally undid her pony-tail, still moist from the shower.  Her damp hair settled around her bare, slowly rising and falling shoulders.  Keiley removed her yoga pants, and finally, her panties.

“Continue your rhythmic breathing, deeply inhaling, exhaling completely.”  The soft sound of a sheer dress dropping to the floor behind her.

At the shushing sound of silk on silk, Kelsie felt an internal quake.  It was as if her spirit had walked out of her body, circled once round the two still, electric forms in the studio, and, having absorbed the essence of sweat and smoke and light, returned to her body.  One mental shiver, and she knew that this was what she had been seeking.  The practice of yoga made intimate by a physical-spiritual connection.  She committed herself to the teaching she would receive.  This is my enlightenment.

Keiley led her body through the same sequence of poses as before, the Sun Salutation, Kelsie willingly following the instruction delivered to her by that gentle voice, that soft touch.

“Now exhale, raising your hips to the sky.  Deepen your breath in downward dog pose.”  Kelsie carefully thrust her buttocks up so that her body made a triangle with the ground.  “Feel the warmth of your body travel along your straight back, culminating in your root chakra.”  Keiley bent to touch the back of Kelsie’s neck, running her fingers along her back to the base of her spine.  Then Keiley moved behind Kelsie, stood behind her and grasped her hips.  Kelsie felt her hips and buttocks pulled hard against Keiley’s naked stomach.  She tried to focus on her breathing, but she could feel herself open up inside.  She could feel her pink wetness rubbing on Keiley.  Kelsie let out a moan of pleasure and Keiley continued to draw her hips back with one hand.  She slowly licked the first and second finger of the other and, drawing them up Kelsie’s thigh towards her buttocks, slipped her index finger into Kelsie.  It went in easy thought Kelsie.  She let out soft moans as Keiley worked the finger gently, rubbing and stroking.  Kelsie’s body glistened with sweat and quivered as Keiley’s second finger swept neatly into her pussy.  “Ohh,” she gasped.  Keiley continued to work her fingers in the wetness, reaching her other hand around to find Kelsie’s clit.  It feels so good thought Kelsie as the area from her anus to her clit pulsed with heat.  She moaned freely, rocking with Keiley, against Keiley’s hands, her hands working, stroking, fingering.

Keiley slowly removed her fingers from Kelsie.  Kelsie felt her gently touch the cups of her knees, and she instinctively knew that she should bend down to all fours.

“Good.  Now arch your back towards the ceiling, as you exhale.  Relax the neck, letting your head drift downwards.”

Cat pose.  Kelsie’s heart was racing, head was racing with the feeling coursing through her body.  With her eyes closed, she could sense that Kelsie had moved to stand at the head of her mat.

“Now roll your belly towards the floor, arch your head back, and open your mouth.”

Kelsie’s nipples were as hard as her clit as she opened her eyes.

Keiley was standing in front of Kelsie, holding open her labia to expose her blue-pink clit.  “Open your mouth,” she whispered.

Kelsie did as she was told.  The blue-pink was wet and hot in her mouth.  She ran her tongue luxuriously over the lips of her instructor’s pussy.  She seemed to know where her instructor wanted the tongue; now on the tip of the clit, flicking; now plunged deep into the wet.  Keiley rolled her head back, fingers caressing her own nipples, brown like olive pits.  Kelsie lapped obediently while her body pulsed with urgent heat.

Kelsie felt herself brought onto her back, knees bent just slightly, legs gently open.  Keiley lithely straddled Kelsie now, her body close, grinding her lightly haired muff on Kelsie’s clit.  Grinding and grinding, she rotated her hips so that her own clit was exposed and rubbing now on Kelsie’s.  She would lift the pressure briefly, then sink back down to make their clits touch.  Oh my god Kelsie thought.  I’m going to cum! Kelsie arched her back, breasts spilling outward into Keiley’s open hands as their clits rubbed wetly, Kelsie’s own shivering with orgasm.  She came and came and came.  From the top of her head, to her cherry-hard nipples, from her pointed toes to her swollen pink cunt she came.

After a few moments Keiley lifted her dark form from Kelsie and gently helped her rest her arms and legs on the mat.  Several minutes passed before Kelsie’s breathing became slow and deep.  Eventually she rolled her body to a seated position.  She knew what to do.  Pressing her palms together between her breasts, like a prayer, she said, “Namaste.”  Keiley repeated the incantation, kissed Kelsie gently on the lips, dressed and left the studio.

Kelsie did not show up at Greg’s regularly scheduled yoga session that week.  Instead, 30 minutes after the last student had left his beginner’s class, Greg looked up from his private yoga practice to see a woman enter the studio.  It was Kelsie.  Greg brushed a lock of dark hair behind his ear and smiled knowingly as he asked, “did you enjoy your private session?”

[Via http://chelseaquestion.wordpress.com]

The pick up

This is long, but it’s exactly how it happened.

When no one was waiting for me in Schroon Lake, I panicked and then remembered I was supposed to call. There wasn’t a public phone in sight. The village center was at most two blocks long. One side of the New York Route 9 had no shops at all and the other side only a few. There was a café, an ice cream shop with a window for walk up service, a t-shirt shop, the bus ticket window, and a hardware store. The other side had the church, a small town hall, a miniscule post office, and a lodge of some sort. A block to the right was a drive-in sub shop. I dragged everything across the street, and using a borrowed phone from the ice cream shop called the retreat. I told the woman who I was and where I was. I told her the woman in charge was supposed to pick me up, and she said someone would be there shortly. I got an ice cream cone and dragged everything back to the spot in front of the church. It offered a great view both to the right and left, even down to the lake and was well out of the way of pedestrians. After about fifteen minutes, a dark blue Dodge sedan came into town from the north and slowed down across from me. It unloaded three teenagers who went into the ice cream shop and pulled away. I opened my guitar case and bean to play. After playing every song I knew, I checked my watch and saw I’d been waiting an hour. I called the retreat again and was told the woman in charge was still not in. I asked that someone, anyone, come pick me up as soon as they could and was assured someone would. I went back to my spot across the street and waited. Every car’s appearance lifted my hopes, but each time they drove past. The teenagers who’d been dropped off earlier walked down to the lake. I looked at my watch again and was startled to see I’d been waiting over two hours. I didn’t want to make waves, but was considering getting on the next bus and heading back to New Haven. I was very annoyed. Before I did, I thought I should call one more time. I was told someone would be right there. The letter in Ms sounded very professional. There would be group sessions, foot massage, reflexology, counseling, and recreational opportunities. I hoped there might be other lesbians I could talk to. I’d left my husband, come out to my family, friends, and co-workers, but had never had sex with another woman. What if I was really bad at being a lesbian? I’d already flunked heterosexuality. I’d waited for over three hours and was on a first name basis with the town policeman who periodically drove to the lake on his short circle patrol. I also knew the woman at the bus ticket window, the people in the café and ice cream shop. Maybe one of them would take me in for the night. Then I heard a car. Actually, I felt the vibrations before I heard the sound. Looking up, I saw a large brown station wagon, covered in dirt, its windows smeared with dirty streaks. I was aghast. I was waiting for a professional woman, someone who might wear jeans, but would certainly wear a knit pullover, someone with clean socks and a professional manner, and a clean car. This driver could not be the psychologist I had written. Its muffler throbbing loudly, the car pulled over at the sub shop and a small woman in jeans, a denim shirt and an extraordinary amount of hair got out. Whew. Then car came unerringly towards me then went past. Before I could sigh again, it made a U-turn and pulled up next to me. This was the car. The driver’s left hand rested on the steering wheel, holding a cigarette. Her right arm casually lay across the back of the front bench seat, an open beer car in her right hand. If possible, she had more hair than the other woman. Even with her sitting, I could tell she was tall. Her breasts were visible under the blue denim shirt she wore open to her navel. I focused on her eyes. I was considering running away when she asked if I was going to the women’s retreat. With no time to fashion a lie, I heard myself say, “Yes, I am.” She told me her name and patted the front seat. Clouds of dust rose, momentarily hiding her face. “Throw your stuff in the back and sit up front with us.” I wondered how easy it would be to get out if I got in the car. What if part of women’s liberation is that women get to be serial killers and advertise for their victims in MS? I opened the back door and noted the rear window of the station wagon was gone. The woman said, “Yeah, it sucks all the dirt in the county in here.” My pack and guitar case stored, I closed the door and opened the front door. There were seven inches of dirt on the front seat. At least seven inches. She patted the seat again and more dust arose. “C’mon.” I looked at my new gold brushed velour jeans, then at the dust on the seat. I knew that by sitting and sliding I would grind dirt into my new pants that would never come out. This wasn’t New Haven dirt. This was country dirt, and it was laughing at my pants. I got in the car carefully, lifting my butt as I moved. Perhaps the pants could be saved. She drove to the sub shop where the small woman was waiting. “Scoot over,” she said as she opened the door. Lift the butt. Move. Lift the butt. Move. Perhaps I could still save my new pants. “Here, baby,” the woman said. Reaching across me, she handed one of two Italian subs to the driver. Hmm. There was a real possibility these two women were lesbians. Not like any lesbians I had ever seen or thought of or imagined, but lesbians none the less. The small woman introduced herself in a husky voice. Where the driver was tall and ample, she was small and wiry. Her blue jeans were as tight as the other’s, but her denim shirt was only open to her breasts. Her sandwich in one hand, the driver juggled a cigarette and a beer in the other. “Hold this a minute, will ya?” She handed me the beer as she unwrapped the sub. With one end of the sub exposed, she reached for the beer can. A tomato, completely encased in olive oil, squirted out, slid down my new tan canvas jacket and settled on my pants. The woman to my right reached to grab it, inadvertently grinding tomato and oil farther into the fabric. Unfortunately, she was still juggling the beer can and cigarette, and the end result was a flurry of ashes, a tiny cinder, and a generous splash of beer all landing on my pants. Fortunately, the beer put out the cinder before it made more than a small hole in the material. It was over. I couldn’t save my clothes now. As we drove along the beautiful upstate New York roads, the women told me there were six other women at the retreat. When the car turned onto a dirt road I understood the full extent of problem with the rear window. Conversation became difficult, if not impossible as I coughed and choked on the dust. The driver stopped the car at a small bridge. On the right side of the road, she pointed out a small waterfall. The lake above the falls, she explained, was where they went swimming. It was a lovely spot, and I was glad I’d brought my camera. Suddenly a voice hailed us. At the top of the falls, a woman stuck her head out of the water and waved. Someone from the retreat, I learned. I smiled, and we all waved. Then the woman stood up. She was totally naked. She wore absolutely nothing. It was impossible to only look at her eyes. My mind was totally blank. There were no previous experiences to which I could relate this one. Southern girls just didn’t see other girls without their clothes. I don’t know why, but they didn’t. It was probably a good thing. I was aware of a buzzing in my head, as well as the car starting up again. And I knew my mouth, which had dropped open when the woman stood up, was still open. The two women in the car assumed I was the same person they’d picked in town, but they were wrong. The New Haven me, with my proper job at Yale, my religious family, and twenty-seven years of assumptions about life, was gone. The new me didn’t know anything about anything. Everything was up in the air. Not everyone looked as I did or thought as I did or behaved as I did. I no longer stood on solid ground, able to see where I’d come from and where I was going. I stood on the rolling deck of a ship at sea in the middle of giant swells, trying to keep my balance, feeling seasick, unsure of what was coming, aware of the danger of being swept away, but unwilling to miss the trip.

©2009 jgschenck

[Via http://jgschenck.wordpress.com]

Lambert's AMA performance on target

Adam Lambert’s performance on last night’s American Music Awards may have been a lot of things, but inappropriate isn’t one of them.

The performance of Lambert’s latest single featured about three seconds of Lambert shoving someone’s face into his crotch, as well as a passionate kiss with a band member. And this was the closing number of the night – viewers could see worse on other shows that typically take that time slot. Much ado about nothing.

No one cared when Lady GaGa wore a flesh-toned body suit – one that made it look like she was wearing a strap-on at that – and broke liquor bottles on stage when she performed. No one said a word about Rihanna’s rings of clothing that left little to the imagination or when she entered the stage bound up BDSM-style. But when a fully clothed gay man mimics a few seconds of fellatio all hell breaks loose. Lambert’s number wasn’t inappropriate, it was right in line with the other outrageous performances of the night.

Lady GaGa at the AMAs. Photo from Google Images (TheSuperficial.com).

Rhianna at the AMAs. Photo from Google Images (TheSuperficial.com).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After all the press about it, I expected to see Lambert on stage with his pants open and a partner gleefully pleasing the pop star for a vast majority of the song, so when I watched the clip for the first time, I completely missed the controversial act entirely.

And trust me if GaGa – or even Britney – had done it, no one would even bat a false eyelash.

But Lambert’s new album drops tomorrow. I’m sure his camp isn’t all that upset about the hype.

Adam Lambert performs “For Your Entertainment at the AMAs

Lady GaGa performs “Bad Romance” and “Speechless” at the AMAs

Rihanna performs at the AMAs

[Via http://stuffqueerpeopleneedtoknow.wordpress.com]

Dim...

Nov 18th 2009

All I want to do is sleep…I had to make myself get out of bed today, and I’m sitting here wondering what the point of getting up was in the first place? The inside of my brain feel’s so bizarre today…I assume it’s because I’m taking a new antidepressant?

Today, my only wish is for death to come for me and take me away to a better place…Somewhere where I can feel loved, because today I feel completely numb…I can’t even shed a single tear today as a result, and this is a very dangerous sign for me, because I have no way of releasing what’s bound up inside me…I’m not suicidal, I would never take my own life…But at times, I feel like I need physical pain to cope with what’s going on inside of my damaged brain…I have no intentions of turning back into the dark realm of BDSM though…I will just have to keep learning how to undo what’s already been done, but without the desire of escaping my inner pain with feeling physical pain..I’ll never be dominate or submissive to anybody ever again nor will I ever want to be flogged again either…But, how do I fill that void now? Often I ask myself the question, “what am I supposed to do now?” Although the answer is always, that I just need to feel loved…But I feel that I’m hopeless where love is concerned also…Because I know the answer to my own question obviously…But sadly, there is NOT enough love in the world to save me from how I’m feeling at this very moment…I can’t even feel God’s love for me right now…All I feel is this endless void within me, filled with nothingness and emptiness…Meanwhile, I remain broken in spirit and cannot find some inner strength to pull myself back together again…So for today I think loving myself is out of the question as well…Hence, I hope for death…To come for me and erase me from this life…I feel like a cruel trick is being played on me, because one day I’m fine and feeling great and the next day I’m so sad that I’m praying for death…Honestly, I can’t control my thoughts anymore, they control me…I can’t control my moods anymore, and they control me too…I can barely manage to get out of bed to come sit here and express myself…And here (this one and only blog of mine) has become such a dark place lately…My positive thoughts used to heavily out weigh my negative thoughts…And now, not so much…I have my support system to help carry my burdens, but I won’t pick up the phone or reach out for anybody’s help…I can only come here to release everything, where I feel no effort (on my part) is required, and I feel safe…I don’t have to see anybody, I don’t have to talk to anybody and I don’t have to interact with anybody, period…I don’t want anybody to know that I’m this weak right now…I have become so pathetic to myself…I feel helpless and hopeless…If I’m not escaping through sleep, I’m awake and therefore I must to be listening to music to keep my demons at bay…That’s the only thing that help’s me when I’m feeling such loneliness and despair…Music! Although at this very moment, I’m sitting here in silence and I’m attempting to release myself from the internal enemy of depression…By expression…

All that I can do now is end with a prayer…

“Father God and Divine Spirit of Love please come and help me”

the entitlement of "ordinary men" to rape, molest, abuse

Lots of interesting information in the study released by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York about clergy sex abuse, most of it disheartening.

I know it says that there is no connection between homosexual identity and sex abuse of minors, and that is good to have the statistics to back up what we all know. Stop blaming the queers.

But the study also says this:

clergy abusers tended to be maladjusted men rather than the pathological abusers…they tended to have few victims and often committed a range of other crimes or improper behaviors, which is similar to the profile of abuse in the wider American society. “These are ordinary men,” Smith said, echoing the verdict of a 1970 study of the psychological profile of priests. (New Catholic Sex Abuse Findings: Gay Priests Are Not the Problem)

Ordinary men.

Certainly, Pope Benedict will be happy to use this idea of how modern culture corrupts, proof that his “modernity is the cause of everything bad in the world,” so that women need to stop seeking their own authority and queers need to get reverse engineered. As in the past, the Pope’s rhetoric will address declining morality among societies (that means all people, all genders) as shown through the acts of depraved men. This reminds me of how that great patriarchal architect, Sigmund Freud, developed his theory of normal human psychology by studying sexually abused young women and claiming they only fantasized about having sex with their fathers.

But I wonder if this idea of “ordinary men” says something more disturbing still. What do we teach our boys about being men, if “ordinary men” have such a sense of entitlement that they seek sexual and ego gratification even from the helpless, even at the cost of violence, because they refuse to negotiate mutual relationships?

The Church will like the notion that sexually predatory priests are just “ordinary men” — as much as Evolutionary Psychologists, I assume. The idea that men-will-be-men, that men are bred by evolution and god, apparently, to take sex wherever they can get it. Instead of this being an issue of a corrupt ideology of gender roles, it’s merely an issue of curbing excess and providing services to those entitled to something they may not deserve. The Church for one; properly-conditioned women for the other.

It’s much easier when women have reached maturity with their corrupt role message intact, so that they acquiesce to the old tale that men can’t help themselves. A woman’s self-violence and self-abuse is a blessing for an abuser. It’s what makes battered women stay in unlocked houses, what makes them accomplices to the crimes not just against themselves but against their children — from kidnappers, to sex traffickers, to genital mutilators.

But if that doesn’t get the job done, and women don’t volunteer for service, there’s always conscription into the ranks of sexual service through rape and molestation and victimization under authority of ”ordinary men.”

lady of the waves

for G

when you whisper in my other ear

and the ocean’s roar is all I hear,

I’m afraid 
you may just be enough



when your undertow destroys me

so effortlessly

I’m afraid

it’s too late to call this off

and when your silver tendrils

lock around my helm

and port and starboard

and everything in between

glitter fingers

rainbow kisses

and kelp-heavy treasure chests spilling 

Wonder Wheel wishes,



I’m afraid

we may just be making history—

and knowing the moment while making it is such luxury

even if all that matters

tonight

is that

I am happy



I told you that sometimes

memories take time to rise,

so you took my hand,

led me out on the sand

and we just walked along the tide



oh it’s strange,

this art of making waves—

how conscious and divine,

to feel my cells shifting

to welcome your drifting

from the country of yours

to the island of mine

and when the horizon lights 

disappear and salt spray battens 

your picture windows, I’m still here—

I am the sand you’ll write your name on with your toes

and the ocean who swallows you whole.

You are the dolphin with secret teeth,

belly upturned at low tide

who flips, presenting dorsal fin. I ride. you.
Who knows—in a thousand years

when you put your ear to a shell

you may still remember me 
the day I fell

asleep by your side

under tiny blue lights

in your moon-quilted ashram by the sea.



© Sarah Noack 2008

Zorg & Dawg Invade Earth

“From this moment forward Dawg, we speak only in Earthling English.  It is imperative our mission is  successful, we must be ready for anything.”  Zorg pulls his black elastic hood tightly over his large green scalp, tucks his collar tight under his pointy grey chin, clicks his eye shield & protective goggles firmly into place activating ultraviolet night vision, while sparks flicker deep within its dark lenses.  He dusts down his skin-tight, leather-like alien commando engagement suit, systematically initiates an array of guerrilla gadgets & multi-coloured intelligence icons while he conducts his final equipment check with the utmost precision.  –

“Always remember, 717 years of evolutionary development theoretically provides us with the stealth and intellect to outwit an earthling at any hour, however do not underestimate the unpredictable tendencies and seductions of the human mind.  The dangerously deluded spirit offers many distractions.  Be alert my brother, remain watchful at all times.”

Dawg follows his twin brothers lead, activates goggles, pauses for 3 seconds to center his Terrestrial Chi and claps his heavily gloved 3 fingered hands together, “Lez hit it cuz!  Andromeda is all ova dis piss-ant puny-ass poor excuse for a Galaxy !!”  In a 3 fingered A sign he knuckle-shuffles a leathery finger across a lone infra red sensor protruding from the cockpit dashboard, synchronizes wrist-dash with UV Heat shields, and counts down…

3’

2’

1’

…and in an instant the two vanish, sucked at high pressure through the check valve airlocks beneath, hurtling them simultaneously into the pitch black vacuum of space.

***

Senseless Scribbling of an Idiot #25: Gay by God

So, the other day a friend of mine posted a question on her Facebook.  She wanted to know if people thought gays were born that way or somehow became gay in life.  Basically, it’s the old nurture versus nature question.  She said the breakroom became quite intense when she posed the question.  Some people feel like they were born that way; some people believe gays are born gay.  Others believe that they’re nurtured to be gay.  Who even knows?  Only science can tell.  Or maybe God.

What do I think?  I think gay people are born gay.  I believe it is a natural occurence.  People shit themselves when it comes to the subject of homosexuality.  Normally, I don’t even like to get into these types of discussions because people get so riled up that the whole thing will just come to blows.  I’ll have to shank somebody just to get them to listen to my point of view.  But since this is my blog and I can damn well write what I want, I’m going to go for it.

If you hate it, then click away and get lost.

Someone once said to me that he noticed that suddenly there were a lot of gays.  He said it must be “something in the water,” meaning the way parents were raising their children and the oversexualisation that we see in the media.  He said it seemed like being gay was the cool thing to do.  I told him that there appears to be an abundance of gays because people are now more comfortable with themselves and they don’t feel like they need to hide who they really are.  Since this is the new millennium and everything, some people just feel like enough is enough.  Let’s let it all hang out.

In my opinion, I do not believe there are more gays now than there were, let’s say, 100 years ago.  There were simply more people hiding the truth from themselves and others.  If you really look back in history, there’s plenty mention of gay people.  Even the Bible has tales of homosexuality.  I’m not talking about the supposed commandments against homosexuality, I’m only talking about the mere mention of gayness.

There are many people that believe that homosexuality is against God’s wishes.  Well, since these people believe that God created everything, then why did He create gay people?  Oh, that was the work of the devil?  Well, then explain to me why God would simply not just strike down all these abominations?  Why let them roam the earth freely contaminating the rest of us?  He let six million of the chosen people go to the exterminator, but gays are free to fornicate at will.  This makes no sense to me.

Look, I am a FIRM believer in God.  I believe He is the Truth, the Light and the Way to whatever eternal glories are waiting for me in the afterlife.  Except for about 15 minutes when I was 17, I have always believed this, and I will never not believe this.

I now have a confession to make:  I used to have a huge problem with gay people.  I used to think that it was the worst thing ever.  I used to believe that it was against God’s commandments.  I used to believe that it was an abomination.

I know that I have a lot of gay friends, and I was comfortable being friends with them because I always knew that our eternal salvation, or damnation, is personal.  When we die, we die alone.  We stand before our Maker alone.  All my sins, even the ones I committed with my best friend, are aired out for me and me alone to make atonement.  So I would think, he’s gay, he’s going to hell, but he’s still cool though.  My soul was safe because their gayness doesn’t contaminate me.  I really believed that.  I never told my gay friends how I felt because I always felt like they didn’t need to hear one more person telling them they were going to hell.  I’m sure they would find out when they got there.

But after Shannon posed her question and I was reading some of the responses, I had this epiphany.  Seriously, a light went off in my head and it was the strangest thing that I just did this huge 180.  First of all, how can I assume that I know what God really wants?  No, really.  Who am I to say, “God doesn’t like that!”  I’m not sure why ever went off on the this is not what God wants routine.  A lot of people do that, assuming they know what the truth is.  We’re all just floundering in this flotsam, trying to get by in life.  We’ve subscribed to whatever religion, whatever thought process and we’re just hoping against hope that we even picked the right one–provided that anything is even waiting for us when we get there.  And you know, that’s a story for another day.

Secondly, who would really choose to be gay?  I know this does not apply to every gay man or lesbian everywhere, but we’ll take some American examples.  In most states gays cannot marry whom they love.  Imagine spending all of your life with the man or woman you loved and when they died, they could leave you nothing because of you happened to be the same gender as your one true love?  Even in the states they are permitted to marry, they still have to battle their unsupportive friends and family.  They get to listen to horrid gay jokes.  Some of them have been abused, maimed, even killed because they are gay.  They suffer isolation and humiliation.  Fathers have turned against sons.  Mothers have shunned daughters.  Siblings alienate siblings.  Families have been torn apart.

The cruellest punishment is rejection, and it hurts like a thousand needles in the eye when it comes from your own family.  Why would someone choose this life?

And then we come to gays who cannot stomach the consequences and they take themselves to crazy heights trying to pretend they aren’t.  I’ve heard of camps where they go to get the gay beat out of them.  Supposedly the power of the Lord will preach the gay out, like exorcising some demon.  I know a man who forced himself into marriage with a woman.  He had hoped to have a child and somehow that would make him not gay.  Instead, the wife found out about his natural tendencies.  She divorced him and took him for every penny he had.  Now he’s miserable.

Who would choose this?

I know there are some gays that do not have it this hard.  They are comfortable who they are.  They have supportive families.  They live in pro-gay marriage states.  This is not a blanket statement for everybody, but merely an outline of what some people are up against.  I know a lot of young gay men who are only half-way out.  They jeopardise relationships and their personal happiness because they can’t share their joy with everybody they know.  One partner feels ashamed and the other just wants to be normal.  With all the “regular” problems in relationships, why would you purposely add that on?

My sister said there was some priest on Oprah who said that being gay was a gift from God to show people lessons in hatred.  I think that sounds pretty horrible, but I am now convinced more than ever that we are either born gay or straight.  There’s nothing that the parents did to make their child gay.  He or she is simply the way he or she is.  Maybe you don’t realise it till you hit puberty and you start contemplating all those raging hormones, but I’ve know a few gay men who said they were quite sure they knew they were gay from a very young age.

And for all of us who are straight, did you wake up one day and decide that you wanted to be straight?  I didn’t.  I know that I did not make conscious decision that I would be straight.  One day I was like, “Oh, that boy is cute.”  I didn’t say, “I should like boys over girl,” or “Liking girls is wrong, so I’m going to like boys.”  None of us made any decision that day we woke up and started noticing sex.

I’m not a scientist or a doctor.  I’m not a priest or any other religious figure.  I’m just some random person with an opinion, like any other random person.

I know there are passages in the Bible that speak against homosexuality, and I’m really trying hard not to take this blog down that route.  It’s such a can of worms, but we have to remember that for awhile it wasn’t so hot to be black, or Jewish, or whatever.  Marrying outside of one’s religion was an atrocity.  Marrying outside of one’s race was a crime against nature.  Marrying the same gender is the new abomination.  I believe it is the last hurdle–at least until we can come up with something else to hate.

Don't Ask, Don't Give: the gAyTM is officially shut down

Reposted with Pam’s permission

ORIGINAL AT:  http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/14025/dont-ask-dont-give-the-gaytm-is-officially-shut-down

by: Pam Spaulding Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 16:44:14 PM EST We’ve talked about the fatigue of being jerked around as a constituency, now several of my fellow bloggers have had enough and I’ve signed on to the effort launched by Joe Sudbay and John Aravosis of Americablog. (FYI (Tues., 3:58 ET: Joe caught me on my cell Monday as I was leaving the cell-free zone in hospital in Brooklyn, so that’s why I didn’t get on the endorsement list until later in the day).

The boycott is cosponsored by Daily Kos, Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake, Dan Savage, Michelangelo Signorile, David Mixner, Andy Towle and Michael Goff of Towle Road, Paul Sousa (Founder of Equal Rep in Boston), Pam Spaulding, Robin Tyler (ED of the Equality Campaign, Inc.), Bil Browning for the Bilerico Project, and soon others.

It’s really more of a “pause,” than a boycott. Boycotts sounds so final, and angry. Whereas this campaign is temporary, and is only meant to help some friends – President Obama and the Democratic party – who have lost their way. We are hopeful that via this campaign, our friends will keep their promises.

So please sign the Petition and take a Pledge to no longer donate to the DNC, Organizing for America, or the Obama campaign until the President and the Democratic party keep their promises to the gay community, our families, and our friends.

Why should hard-earned LGBT dollars go to a party fast to line up with its palms outstretched to whisper sweet nothings in our collective ears, then turn away and tell us equality will have to wait until “X” occurs first. We’re not stupid. We just want our funds to go to the people in office or running for office who will focus on passing legislation that the “fierce advocate” can sign, since he’s stated numerous times he’ll sign it if it makes it to his desk. Well, put up or shut up.

Interestingly, one would expect a response to this effort by the HRC to be negative. To the contrary, it looks like a tacit endorsement (FDL):

“Individual donors should always make their own careful assessments of how to spend limited political contributions. We all need to focus on the legislative priorities identified by AmericaBlog and with whatever tactic individuals decide to employ, the ultimate objective needs to be securing the votes we need to move our legislative agenda forward.”

David Dayen notes that “HRC hasn’t given to the DNC this year, as per the policy put in by Obama after his election that the Party cannot accept contributions from organizations structured as a C(4).” And if you read the whole post, other progressive blogs, equally dissatisfied with the powers that be straying from progressive causes, are about ready to call a boycott of donations to the DCCC and the DSCC.FAQs are below the fold.

Pam Spaulding :: Don’t Ask, Don’t Give: the gAyTM is officially shut down

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is this?
We are asking voters to pledge to withhold contributions to the Democratic National Committee, Organizing for America, and the Obama campaign until the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is passed, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) is repealed, and the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is repealed -– all of which President Obama repeatedly promised to do if elected.

Why are you asking people to take this pledge?
Candidate Obama promised during the campaign to be the gay community’s “fierce advocate.” He and the Democratic party have not kept their promise.
Can you give examples of how the President and Democrats have not been fierce advocates for the civil rights of gay and lesbian Americans?

• • Asking a religious right activist who claims to have been “cured” of his homosexuality to headline campaign events in South Carolina. Then letting the anti-gay bigot spend half an hour, on stage, haranguing gays at the Obama event.
  • Refusing for months to interview with LGBT newspapers during the campaign, while his opponent did repeatedly.
  • Flubbing question on whether gays are immoral.
  • Inviting anti-gay activist Rick Warren, who helped pass Prop 8 in California, to give the invocation at the inaugural.
  • Inviting a gay bishop to the inaugural festivities, then not beginning the TV broadcast until the gay bishop has finished and left.
  • Refusing to appoint an openly gay Cabinet member.
  • Abolishing the LGBT outreach position at the DNC and never reinstating it.
  • Refusing to re-establish the White House Office of LGBT Outreach and the White House LGBT Liaison (which was a Special Assistant to the President at one point).
  • Continuing to discharge two gay servicemembers a day, even though he could stop it immediately by issuing a stop-loss order immediately.
  • Asking for a study on “whether” repealing DADT would hurt national security, rather than a study on how to repeal it, as promised.
  • Deleting his gay civil rights promise from the White House Web site.
  • Changing his commitment to “repeal” Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, to “changing DADT it in a sensible manner.”
  • Repeatedly defending DOMA in court, including just a few weeks ago, even though he didn’t have to.
  • Making jokes about marriage equality, which President Obama claims he doesn’t support, even though he once did.
  • Comparing gay relationships to incest and pedophilia in a Justice Department brief.
  • Joking about gay protesters upset about the DOMA brief.
  • Refusing to provide health care benefits to the partners of gay employees, and then claiming that DOMA precludes it, when it does not.
  • Refusing to meet with gay legal groups to discuss how toprovide such health benefits within the confines of DOMA.
  • Claiming that health benefits for partners of federal employees were new, then being caught in a lie.
  • Showing visible discomfort when asked about gay civil rights.
  • Suggesting he won’t get to DADT, DOMA or ENDA until his second term, if ever.
  • Refusing to suspend implementation of anti-gay laws, like DADT and DOMA, while suspending laws that hurt others.
  • White House staffers worked against amendment proposed by Rep. Alcee Hasting (D-FL) to defund Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell investigations
  • Saying won’t repeal DADT until wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have finished.
  • Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid had to beg President Obama to help on DADT repeal.
  • A White House official referring to gay civil rights advocates, marching on Washington, as part of “the Internet left fringe” whose opinions don’t matter.
  • Saying he won’t touch DOMA in his first term.
  • Refusing to release list of gay attendees at hate crimes reception.
  • Refusing to mention Maine or Washington state, or anything of substance, in his speech to the Human Rights Campaign dinner.
  • Saying gays are “naïve” for wanting the president to keep his promise.
  • Refusing to issue a statement specifically opposing anti-gay ballot measures in Maine and Washington state.
  • Attorney General Eric Holders flubs question on Maine, twice — once while in Maine.
  • DNC/OFA emailed supporters in Maine and Washington state, but didn’t ask them to vote against anti-gay ballot measures, then lied about it.
  • Senator Durbin (D-IL), a very close ally of Obama, says Senate probably won’t repeal DADT in 2010, as promised.
  • Senior DNC official accuses gays and lesbians of “helping Republicans” by simply asking Democrats to keep their gay civil rights promise.
  • Refusing to publicly endorse marriage equality for gays.
  • Continuing to dawdle over DADT.
  • Refusing to this day to interview with the gay press.
  • Refusing to apologize for any of these slights.

But won’t your pledge hurt Democrats?
It never hurts Democrats to keep their promises to the voters. The American people respect strong leaders who have the courage to stick to their beliefs. And it will only help Democrats in the next election to stand by their commitments to a core constituency. If Democratic voters aren’t motivated, they won’t vote. We are concerned that the President’s failure to fulfill his promises may suppress voter participation not only from gay Democrats, but from our families, friends and allies. In a very real way, this is an effort to ensure that we get-out-the-vote in 2010, 2012 and beyond.

But if you don’t give money to the DNC, won’t that help elect Republicans who are even worse on gay issues, and other issues Democrats care about?
We are not calling for a boycott of donations to the DNC. We are simply calling for a pause until the party follows through on its campaign promise to repeal DADT and DOMA, and pass ENDA. The party will get the same donations it would have gotten, when the promises are kept. The Democrats could choose to make good on their promise today. And by doing so, they will only further motivate the Democratic base to again turn out for the next election, a decidedly good thing.

You have to admit, gay rights is controversial – wouldn’t it be political suicide for Democrats to push gay rights?
Democrats should not have promised to support gay civil rights rights in exchange for our votes if they never intended to keep the promise. If we’re not controversial during the campaign, when politicians are happy to accept our votes and our money, we cannot accept being labeled controversial after our candidates win. We kept our part of the bargain, we voted for Barack Obama and a Democratic Congress. It’s entirely reasonable for us to ask our elected officials to keep their part of the bargain too.

What’s more, gay rights are not controversial. Americans favor allowing openly gay men and lesbian women to serve in the military by a margin of 69% – 26%.  By a margin of 57% – 37%, “A clear majority of Americans (57%) favors allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into legal agreements with each other that would give them many of the same rights as married couples.” That can’t happen if DOMA is the law.  And in fact, if these civil rights promises were controversial, they would have hurt candidate Obama at the polls. But, he proudly and loudly proclaimed his support for LGBT equality, and he won.

No matter how disappointed you are, aren’t Democrats still better than Republicans?
The Republican party is terrible on gay issues. That doesn’t excuse the Democratic party breaking specific promises to the gay community made in exchange for our votes. We didn’t break our promise at the ballot box, the Democrats shouldn’t break theirs after we helped put them into office.

President Obama has only been in office less than a year, why the rush?
In less than a year, serious damage has already been done to the President’s commitments to the gay community. The problem isn’t only that he hasn’t been quick enough to fulfill his promises, it’s that he has actually backtracked on his promises and hurt the cause of civil rights and our community, as detailed above.

But aren’t there bigger priorities than gay rights for the Democrats to deal with, like health care and the economy?
Would President Obama, the DNC and the Congress tell other minorities that their civil rights aren’t important? The suggestion is that Democrats have more important things on the table. When won’t Democrats have more important priorities than the civil rights of gays and lesbians? Will there ever be a day, a year, an administration, when the President and the Congress won’t have serious crises to deal with? Suggesting that gay Americans and their friends and families wait until the President and Congress have nothing else to do is not only insulting, it’s a recipe for never. And regardless, we trust that this President, unlike the previous, can walk and chew gum at the same time.

Who is behind this effort?
John Aravosis and Joe Sudbay, two longtime political operatives in Washington, DC, and the editors of AMERICAblog.com. AMERICAblog has raised over $300,000 for Democratic candidates and progressive causes, including nearly $50,000 for then-candidate Barack Obama, supported by AMERICAblog early in the primaries.

The boycott is cosponsored by Daily Kos, Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake, Dan Savage, Michelangelo Signorile, David Mixner, Andy Towle and Michael Goff of Towle Road, Paul Sousa (Founder of Equal Rep in Boston), Pam Spaulding, Robin Tyler (ED of the Equality Campaign, Inc.), Bil Browning for the Bilerico Project, and soon others.

You can contact us at: dncboycott@gmail.com

How can I help?
Sign the pledge, tell your friends about this campaign, read the blog, and stay tuned for updates and action alerts on how you help make sure that the President, the Congress and the Democratic party keep their promises to the LGBT community, our families, our friends and our allies.

This is an excellent sweep of top progressive and LGBT bloggers and activists who have signed on right at the outset and many readers are backing this – are you ready to send the party hacks and WH foot-draggers a me$$age?